diff --git a/astrapy/__init__.py b/astrapy/__init__.py
index 236e541c..5960bff2 100644
--- a/astrapy/__init__.py
+++ b/astrapy/__init__.py
@@ -11,4 +11,4 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
-__version__ = "0.5.2"
+__version__ = "0.5.3"
diff --git a/astrapy/db.py b/astrapy/db.py
index 8242f56f..002b3d2d 100644
--- a/astrapy/db.py
+++ b/astrapy/db.py
@@ -348,17 +348,36 @@ def get_collections(self):
         return response
 
     def create_collection(
-        self, dimension=None, options={}, function="", collection_name=""
+        self, options=None, dimension=None, metric="", collection_name=""
     ):
-        if dimension and not options:
-            options = {"vector": {"dimension": dimension}}
-            if function:
-                options["vector"]["function"] = function
-        if options:
-            jsondata = {"name": collection_name, "options": options}
-        else:
-            jsondata = {"name": collection_name}
-
+        # Initialize options if not passed
+        if not options:
+            options = {"vector": {}}
+        elif "vector" not in options:
+            options["vector"] = {}
+
+        # Now check the remaining parameters - dimension
+        if dimension:
+            if "dimension" not in options["vector"]:
+                options["vector"]["dimension"] = dimension
+            else:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    "dimension parameter provided both in options and as function parameter."
+                )
+
+        # Check the metric parameter
+        if metric:
+            if "metric" not in options["vector"]:
+                options["vector"]["metric"] = metric
+            else:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    "metric parameter provided both in options as function parameter."
+                )
+
+        # Build the final json payload
+        jsondata = {"name": collection_name, "options": options}
+
+        # Make the request to the endpoitn
         response = self._request(
             method=http_methods.POST,
             path=f"{self.base_path}",